Meet Easterseals Team Member Crystal Smithers

Crystal

Crystal Smithers is a Family Service Coordinator with Early Steps in DeLand. She’s been serving in the role since 2016 and is proud to be part of the Easterseals Northeast Central Florida family.

Early Steps is a Florida Department of Health program overseen locally by Easterseals. Within the program is Early Steps North Beaches, which serves Volusia, Flagler, Lake, Sumter, and Putnam county families. In her role, Crystal is responsible for coordinating therapy services for eligible children, and she assists families in developing and updating their Individual Family Support Plans tailored to the specific needs of their child and their family routines.

Crystal also is a member of Easterseals’ 2019 IMPACT team – the first of its kind for Easterseals Northeast Central Florida! President/CEO Bev Johnson said the IMPACT Team was created by a small employee task force in response to strategic planning outcomes that recognized the need to enhance Easterseals employee engagement.

In celebration of national Easterseals’ 100th birthday, Crystal shared with us a bit about her role at Easterseals and why it means so much to her:

Easterseals: What do you enjoy most about working with families through Easterseals?

Crystal: The best part of my job is seeing children learn new skills that will be with them for the rest of their lives. Watching children learn to walk or using signs and words for the first time to get their needs met is an amazing experience.

Easterseals: What are the advantages to you as an individual professional in working in a team-focused environment? How does this, in turn, become an advantage to those whom you serve?

Crystal: Working in a team-focused environment helps me feels secure in knowing my coworkers are more than willing to jump in and help me (most times before I even need to ask). This works in favor of our clients in ensuring they continue to get the best level of care and assistance without slipping through the cracks.

Easterseals: How have you grown personally and/or professionally in your position with Easterseals?

Crystal: Working at Easterseals has given me the confidence of knowing I do my job well. In no other position, in any other organization I have worked in, have I felt as confident in my skills and abilities in helping my clients as I do at Easterseals.

Easterseals: What’s one thing most people don’t understand about your position?

Crystal: Most people don’t understand that my job is not only about paperwork and deadlines! My job first and foremost is to make sure our kiddos and their families are getting the best services we can provide.

Easterseals: What’s one thing that you want to want to be known for in your position?

Crystal: I want to be known as someone who understands their job well and is open and available to help others better their craft in this field. I want to be a resource not only for our families but also my coworkers.

​Easterseals: What’s a growth opportunity you currently are challenged by in your position at Easterseals?

Crystal: Being part of the IMPACT team is the newest growth opportunity I have been given. I am excited to work closely with coworkers in other departments to help Easterseals do what we do even better!

Easterseals: When people think about Easterseals, what do you hope comes to mind for them?

Crystal: When people think of Easterseals, I want them to think of hope. Hope that we can help them reach their fullest potential. I hope families that come through our doors can breathe a sigh of relief knowing they have found a place willing to go the extra mile to help them live fully and make the most of their unique abilities.

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If you have a love of teaching or an interest in helping children and adults with disabilities reach their fullest potential, you may have a place at Easterseals. All current job opportunities may not be available online, so contact HR Generalist Fran DeCinto at careers@esnecfl.org  for more information. In the meantime, complete our application for employment opportunities, available here. Additionally, Easterseals has partnered with GettingHired.com, an online resource that connects people with disabilities to employers in search of qualified jobseekers with disabilities. Visit GettingHired.com to open your door to opportunity!
 
Easterseals of Northeast Central Florida serves the region with facilities in Daytona Beach, DeLand, Bunnell, and Leesburg. To learn more about Easterseals of Northeast Central Florida, please visit  www.eastersealsnecfl.org.
 

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